What should a community do with its unused land? Plant food, of course. With energy and humour, Pam Warhurst tells at the TEDSalon the story of how she and a growing team of volunteers came together to turn plots of unused land into communal vegetable gardens and to change the narrative of food in their community.

Do you want to pick up and eat delicious fruits and vegetables that grow right on the main street of your town or city?

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I tend to think of gardening as part science, part creative process (and the mystery part that I still haven’t figured out!) and the humble and hearty chive, Allium schoenoprasum, is one of my favourite plants for ‘combination use’. Here are just a few of the things I use them for:

LOW HEDGING

With wispy green, grass-like foliage and charming pink-tinged, purple flowers, chives work beautifully as a low hedge. In my area (USDA Zone 6b), they’re a great three+ season plant. In the late autumn I allow the fallen leaves to cover them and by mid-March, they’ve lost all patience and grow right through the leaves! They’re not invasive (they will do some minor self-sowing if allowed to flower), but they clump nicely and can easily be divided to provide more plants. If they get floppy mid-season, they can be cut down (I use a weed wacker) almost to the ground and within two weeks, they will be full & lovely again.

GARDEN GUARDIANS

A big bonus with members of the allium family is that they repel quite a few pests (Japanese beetles & carrot rust fly) while attracting beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. They serve double duty when planted as a border around vegetable beds and are even reputed to discourage deer browsing.

FOUNDATION PLANTING

With bug-repellent properties and shallow rooting, chives make a great planting against a house or shed. Lush and full, yet easily removed and replaced for any building maintenance duties.

FLOWERPOT FILLER

Chives are perfect in mixed arrangement flower pots. They’re an easy and unique substitute for the over-played “spike” grass. Teamed with Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis, and thyme, Thymus vulgaris, you can make a gorgeous, easy-to-care-for, edible planter.

WINDOW BOXES

I use chives in indoor and outdoor boxes. A sunny windowsill inside makes for a convenient and pretty supply of fresh stems and flowers for eating, and outside, they attract butterflies and the occasional hummingbird into easy view.

Grown easily and very affordably from seed, chives should be on your go-to list, too!